Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars
A Real Starting Point, January 16, 2008
From a musical standpoint, I would rate this five stars. Jake Smith isn't afraid to be experimental, so the album is a very nice mix of rootsy and current sounds. One minute we are on the front porch of a home in the rural South, the next we are watching kids skateboard on the wrong side of the train-tracks. Both experiences are great! As far as the content goes, Jake is walking a fine line between legit Christian and simply secular inspiration, and sometimes the line gets a bit too fine for my liking. I listen to and like both Christian and good secular music, but tend to shy away from watered-down Christian. Some of the songs are prayers of devotion -- What I Plan to Do, Make Me Move -- and other songs allude to God, but I don't think the name Jesus, Lord, or God, actually appears in the lyrics. He shines best in songs of pure encouragement and hope, such as Get Up, This is Certain, and Run. It just makes you feel better. He has a warm and friendly voice that is delightful to listen to. On his next album, I hope to see more introspection and vulnerability, weather he goes more toward secular or Christian.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Strong Debut on Rocketown Records, July 5, 2007
Add Real by Jake Smith to the list of strong debuts on Rocketown Records. Formed in 1996 by Michael W. Smith and Don Donahue, the label has been responsible for the first recordings of Chris Rice, Ginny Owens, Watermark, and Alathea plus some other excellent albums, including Exodus, the worship project that became their best-selling title. This small family-like label has a knack for finding and introducing great talent.
This is equally true on Smith's impressive offering where he seamlessly fuses a variety of styles (rap, funk, blues, pop, rock, soul) into what the label calls soulful, groove-based pop. It's an apt description for this New Orleans native who turns tight arrangements, polished production and smooth vocals into a sound of his own that exudes energy and plenty of variety.
"Get Up" the opening song is carried along by a subdued rap that breaks into a joyous chorus that encourages us to get free from what holds us and "get ready for so much more." On "What I Plan to Do," without warning, a shameless piano takes off on a brief excursion through Dixie-land jazz.
In the straight-ahead pop/rock of "Breakdown" Smith addresses a troubled soul: "How can you say it's better not to speak at all." Holding "it all inside" and saying "you're fine," when "it's just pretend." He speaks as a concerned friend when he warns: "You're headed for a breakdown." The beautiful falsetto and the otherworldly vibe heard on "Run" are reminiscent of Coldplay at their best.
The production combined with excellent vocals and musicianship make it all work together for a cohesive sound.
It's apparent from the lyrics that Real is full of honest reflections about life from a Christian perspective. The references to God and faith are subtle giving this crossover potential. What makes it rewarding are the optimism and hope that find their way into these songs.
This is a triumph not only for Jake Smith but for Rocketown Records in giving us another great debut.
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